James Tyler Guitars Studio Elite w/ Stainless Frets – Aztec Gold

Information

Brand New w/ Warranty. We are an authorized Tyler Dealer.

Like what you see? All photos are of the exact instrument you will receive.

Either you know or you don’t… We are so very excited to let YOU know, Guitars To Be Played is an official James Tyler dealer! Tyler has been amongst the crème de la crème of boutique guitar builders since the start. Best known for their flagship Studio Elite model and wild ‘shmear' finishes, Tyler Guitars has always made their own rules. For years they have pushed the limits of boutique guitar design and innovation. Whether you are looking for a ‘back to basics’ Classic, a decked-out Studio Elite with all the bells and whistles, or an Ultimate Weapon for total sonic destruction, give us a call to spec out your dream Tyer!

What Does Cam Think? 

Our very first full-blown Studio Elite has landed at Guitars To Be Played! I’ve had experience with the HD and HDX, but this is my maiden Studio Elite voyage. The main difference between the SE and the SEHD or SEHDX is the omission of a traditional master tone knob and the addition of Series/ Parallel/ Split switches for each pickup, as well as a Lead/ Rhythm switch. The Series/ Parallel/ Split switches allow for a ridiculous amount of tonal variety in every pickup position. Not to mention the Add Neck/ Bridge button and variable Midboost are still part of the equation. The Lead/ Rhythm switch allows you to dial in a complex combination of buttons and switches for a rhythm tone, and bypass all those changes by going straight to the bridge pickup in one move. It’s a clever switching option!

Pickup-wise, we are running a Secret humbucker in the bridge. It’s an articulate and airy medium-output pickup that cuts through nicely with a punchy upper midrange. The JTS5500 singles are a great match with a juicy attack and fluid feel. They are Alnico 5, have a healthy amount of output, and work great clean or dirty!

The midboost circuit is a thing of magic. You can use it in many ways. The secret sauce is engaging it without even touching the boost volume. Just adding it in the circuit adds a bit of glass to the high end and a bit more in the midrange. Of course, you can play with the boost volume to add midrange and output to your sound. This is a great tool in the studio. Adding the neck and bridge to the middle position, especially with the bridge pickup in parallel, is the ultimate funky ‘80s tone (think ‘Billie Jean’ by MJ). And the bridge pickup’s ‘series/ parallel’ option is great for getting single coil tones without sacrificing volume and balance. Rounding things out is a master volume, master tone, and classic 5-way selector.

The 2-point trem is buttery smooth and stays in tune great. It is set up to float, so there is bit of pull-up available on the bar. It’s one of my favorite trem sytems, and this is coming from a Floyd Rose guy!

How Does It Play?

The string action sits at a little over 4/64” on the low E string and right at 4/64” on the high E string, measured at the 12^th fret. We chose Tyler’s Standard ’64 neck profile for this one, as it’s the middle ground between their Standard ’59 and Extra Thin. We went with narrow/ tall stainless-steel frets and I’m glad we did. This thing is a smooth operator!

Weight: 7lbs 8.1oz

The G&G custom hard case pictured is included!

Specifications

Body: Alder

Bridge: Gotoh G2TS with Tyler Saddles

Pickups: Secret Humbucker and Dual Coil JTS5500’s

Tuners: Hipshot Locking w/ Pearl Buttons

Inlay: Gold Mother of Pearl

Radius: 10”-12” Compound

Scale Length: 25.5”

Neck: Quartersawn Maple

Fretboard: Indian Rosewood

Frets: 22

Fretwire: Stainless Narrow/ Tall

Nut: 1 5/8”

Neck Profile: Standard 64

Hardware: Chrome

Knobs: Black Knobs and Buttons

Finish: Aztec Gold

Pickguard: Black/ White/ Black

Headstock: Black

Logo: Tyler Standard in Gold

Electronic: Master Volume, Midboost Level, 5-way switch, Midboost on/off, Add Neck/ Bridge, Series/ Split/ Parallel for each pickup, Lead/ Rhythm

Strings: 10 gauge

Tuning: E standard

Case: G&G Custom Tyler Signature Hardshell Case